Overview (3)

Mini Bio (1)

Cleft-chinned, steely-eyed and virile star of international cinema who rose from being "the ragman's son" (the name of his best-selling 1988 autobiography) to become a bona fide superstar, Kirk Douglas, also known as Issur Danielovitch Demsky, was born on December 9, 1916 in Amsterdam, New York. His parents, Bryna (Sanglel) and Herschel Danielovitch, were Jewish immigrants from Chavusy, Mahilyow Voblast (now in Belarus). Although growing up in a poor ghetto, Douglas was a fine student and a keen athlete and wrestled competitively during his time at St. Lawrence University. However, he soon identified an acting scholarship as a way out of his meager existence, and was sufficiently talented to gain entry into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He only appeared in a handful of minor Broadway productions before joining the United States Navy in 1941, and then after the end of hostilities in 1945, returned to the theater and some radio work. On the insistence of ex-classmate Lauren Bacall, movie producer Hal B. Wallis screen-tested Douglas and cast him in the lead role in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946). His performance received rave reviews and further work quickly followed, including an appearance in the low-key drama I Walk Alone (1947), the first time he worked alongside fellow future screen legend Burt Lancaster. Such was the strong chemistry between the two that they appeared in seven films together, including the dynamic western Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957), the John Frankenheimer political thriller Seven Days in May (1964) and their final pairing in the gangster comedy Tough Guys (1986). Douglas once said about his good friend: "I've finally gotten away from Burt Lancaster. My luck has changed for the better. I've got nice-looking girls in my films now.".

After appearing in "I Walk Alone", Douglas scored his first Oscar nomination playing the untrustworthy and opportunistic boxer Midge Kelly in the gripping Champion (1949). The quality of his work continued to garner the attention of critics and he was again nominated for Oscars for his role as a film producer in The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) and as tortured painter Vincent van Gogh in Lust for Life (1956), both directed by Vincente Minnelli. In 1955, Douglas launched his own production company, Bryna Productions, the company behind two pivotal film roles in his career. The first was as French army officer Col. Dax in director Stanley Kubrick's brilliant anti-war epic Paths of Glory (1957). Douglas reunited with Kubrick for yet another epic, the magnificent Spartacus (1960). The film also marked a key turning point in the life of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who had been blacklisted during the McCarthy "Red Scare" hysteria in the 1950s. At Douglas' insistence, Trumbo was given on-screen credit for his contributions, which began the dissolution of the infamous blacklisting policies begun almost a decade previously that had destroyed so many careers and lives.

Douglas remained busy throughout the 1960s, starring in many films. He played a rebellious modern-day cowboy in Lonely Are the Brave (1962), acted alongside John Wayne in the World War II story In Harm's Way (1965), again with The Duke in a drama about the Israeli fight for independence, Cast a Giant Shadow (1966), and once more with Wayne in the tongue-in-cheek western The War Wagon (1967). Additionally in 1963, he starred in an onstage production of Ken Kesey's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", but despite his keen interest, no Hollywood studio could be convinced to bring the story to the screen. However, the rights remained with the Douglas clan, and Kirk's talented son Michael Douglas finally filmed the tale in 1975, starring Jack Nicholson. Into the 1970s, Douglas wasn't as busy as previous years; however, he starred in some unusual vehicles, including alongside a young Arnold Schwarzenegger in the loopy western comedy The Villain (1979), then with Farrah Fawcett in the sci-fi thriller Saturn 3 (1980) and then he traveled to Australia for the horse opera/drama The Man from Snowy River (1982).

Unknown to many, Kirk has long been involved in humanitarian causes and has been a Goodwill Ambassador for the US State Department since 1963. His efforts were rewarded with the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1981), and with the Jefferson Award (1983). Furthermore, the French honored him with the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. More recognition followed for his work with the American Cinema Award (1987), the German Golden Kamera Award (1987), The National Board of Reviews Career Achievement Award (1989), an honorary Academy Award (1995), Recipient of the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award (1999) and the UCLA Medal of Honor (2002). Despite a helicopter crash and a stroke suffered in the 1990s, he remains active and continues to appear in front of the camera.

Spouse (2)

Trade Mark (4)

Frequently played manipulative, angry and often cruel leading characters that bordered on unsympathetic but were always compelling

Showy, flamboyant acting style.

Trivia (100)

In Oct. 1997 was ranked #53 in "Empire" (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.

Born Issur Danielovitch (also reported as Issur Danielovitch Demsky) to Jacob Danielovitch and mother Bryna (after whom he later named his production company, Bryna Productions), from Russia, who came to America in 1912.

In January he suffered a stroke that made it very difficult for him to talk. Speech therapy over the years greatly alleviated the problem.

Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Jimmy Carter on 17th January 1981. This is the highest US honor a civilian can receive.

Earned $50,000 for saying the only English word at the end of a 1980s Japanese TV commercial: "Coffee".

Speaks German (fluently, but not accent-free) and French.

He survived a helicopter crash on February 23, 1991, in which two fellow occupants were killed. He was left with a debilitating back injury.

Has celebrated his Bar Mitzvah twice: first (as most Jewish boys do) when he was 13 and later when he was 83.

Graduated with a degree in English from St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. President of the class of 1939.

Received a Medal of Honor on 14 June 2002 from the University of California-Los Angeles, during the school's graduation ceremony for theater, film and television students. Previous recipients include former US Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and actors Laurence Olivier and Carol Burnett.

In 1983 was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

Originally cast to play Col. Sam Trautman in First Blood (1982), but walked out on the project. He wanted substantial changes made to the script, specifically that John Rambo die at the hands of Trautman, like the character did in the novel. The writers held their ground and refused. Richard Crenna was eventually cast in the role.

Was voted the 36th Greatest Movie Star of all time by "Entertainment Weekly" magazine.

Was named #17 greatest actor on The 50 Greatest Screen Legends list by the American Film Institute.

Wore lifts in many of his films, which made him appear about 5'11" or 6'0" on screen. Once, as a prank, Burt Lancaster found his lifts on a film set and hid them from him, which allegedly infuriated him.

In August 1986 he had a pacemaker fitted after collapsing in a restaurant.

Douglas had a fully Jewish upbringing, but did not practice extensively as an adult. This changed when, on his 83rd birthday, he had a second Bar Mitzvah, reaffirming his faith and causing him to practice again.

Had both knees replaced in 2005, against the advice of his doctors. The operation was a success.

After son Michael Douglas was fired from the stage production of "Summer Tree", he bought the stage and film rights to the story and gave it to Michael to star in.

Grandfather of seven children: Cameron Douglas (born 13 December 1978), Dylan Michael Douglas (born 8 August 2000), Carys Zeta Douglas (born 20 April 2003) (children of his son Michael Douglas), Kelsey Douglas (born 1992), Tyler Douglas (born 1996), Ryan Douglas (born 2000) and Jason Douglas (born 2003) (children of his son Peter Douglas).

Appeared in a stage production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and later bought the film rights. He didn't make a movie of it and eventually turned the rights over to his son Michael Douglas, who was able to secure financing and produce the film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975).

If he had not heeded wife Anne Douglas's advice, he would have been on producer Mike Todd's private plane in 1958 when it crashed and killed all on-board. Todd's wife Elizabeth Taylor was also scheduled to be on the plane but canceled due to a bad cold.

Met his German wife-to-be, Anne Douglas, when she applied for a job as his assistant on the French location shoot for Act of Love (1953).

In 2001 he was awarded the American National Medal of Arts from the National Endowment of the Arts.

Resided in Palm Springs, CA, for more than 40 years. In October 2005 the city honored him by naming a lushly landscaped drive "Kirk Douglas Way". It winds around part of Palm Springs International Airport. A lavish ceremony and party was given by the Palm Springs International Film Society and International Film Festival and was attended by Douglas, his wife Anne Douglas and their three surviving sons. His son Joel, also a Palm Springs resident, was responsible for the campaign.

Gave up his two- to three-pack-a-day cigarette habit in 1950. His father later died from lung cancer in 1955, at age 72.

In 1955 he started his own production company, Bryna Productions--named after his mother--making him one of the first actors to do so.

He and wife Anne Douglas renewed their wedding vows in California around the 50th anniversary of their 1954 marriage. They reaffirmed their vows before 300 friends and family members at the famous Greystone Estate in Beverly Hills. Guests included Dan Aykroyd, Lauren Bacall, Nancy Reagan and Tony Curtis. He walked into the traditional Jewish ceremony to the tune of "I'm in the Mood for Love" and later sang a tune he had written for the occasion, "Please Stay in Love With Me".

Helped break the Hollywood blacklist by hiring Dalton Trumbo, a member of the "Hollywood Ten", to write the screenplay for Spartacus (1960). Despite widespread criticism from many in the industry, including John Wayne and Hedda Hopper, Douglas refused to back down and Trumbo received screen credit under his own name. When presenting Douglas with an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement at The 68th Annual Academy Awards (1996), Steven Spielberg publicly thanked Douglas for his courage. However, Otto Preminger had already broken the blacklist by hiring Trumbo for Exodus (1960). Trumbo's family publicly said that Douglas greatly exaggerated his role in breaking the blacklist.

Confirmed his retirement from acting after making Illusion (2004), although he did act in one more film, Empire State Building Murders (2008), and has had numerous appearances (as himself) on entertainment and gossip programs, and in documentaries.

While filming The War Wagon (1967) in September 1966, he enraged co-star John Wayne by recording a TV spot endorsing Edmund G. Brown, the Democratic Governor of California, after Wayne had recorded an advertisement for Republican challenger Ronald Reagan.

Admitted he made The Big Trees (1952) for nothing just to get out of his contract with Warner Bros. He later said, "It was a terrible movie.".

Awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6263 Hollywood Blvd. on February 8, 1960.

An avid user of the Internet.

Best of friends with Karl Malden (who was also very close with his son Michael Douglas, with whom he co-starred on The Streets of San Francisco (1972)). After Malden died on July 1, 2009, Douglas remarked that their acquaintance was the longest he had with anyone in his life, lasting 70 years.

Co-hosted (with Cass Elliot) the release party for folk-rocker Donovan's album "Barabajagal" (1969), posing for photos with Donovan and Elliot. He described Donovan as "not just a gentleman, but a gentle man".

Enlisted in the US Navy in 1941, shortly after the US entered World War II. He served as a communications officer in submarine warfare. Hee received a medical discharge in 1944 due to combat-related injuries.

Was not close friends with Burt Lancaster, as was often perceived. Their friendship was largely fabricated by the publicity-wise Douglas, while in reality they were very competitive with each other and sometimes privately expressed a mutual personal disdain despite respecting each other's acting talents.

At the 1987 American Academy of Dramatic Arts tribute to Douglas, Burt Lancaster, said, "Kirk would be the first person to tell you he's a very difficult man." After a pause he added, "And I would be the second.".

His father changed the family name from Danielovich to Demsky.

Hedda Hopper told him after he became a star with Champion (1949), "Now that you're a big hit, you've become a real S.O.B." Douglas replied, "You're wrong. I was always an S.O.B. You just never noticed before".

He wrote his autobiography without the help of a ghostwriter--very unusual for a Hollywood bio.

Was signed to play Gabey in On the Town (1949), but had to be replaced because he suffered from a case of psychosomatic laryngitis.

He got out of his contract with Warner Bros. by offering to star in any picture they chose, for no salary. The picture was The Big Trees (1952).

When he was contacted by MGM to replace Ricardo Montalban in The Story of Three Loves (1953) because of his box-office power, he refused until he discussed it with Montalban, who was in training for the role. Although Montalban felt appreciative of Douglas' concern for him, he understood the studio's position and gave up the role.

After winning a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, he found work as a waiter at Schraft's on 86th St. and Broadway. Among the other aspiring actors working there was John Forsythe.

He claims that painter Marc Chagall asked him to play Chagall in a filmography, but the actor turned him down after the rigors of playing painter Vincent Van Gogh in Lust for Life (1956).

His claim to have broken the blacklist by hiring Dalton Trumbo to write the screenplay for Spartacus (1960) was publicly disputed by Trumbo's son and daughter, as well as the film's producer Edward Lewis and Howard Fast's children.

Heclaimed to be 5'11" at his peak. However, he was known for wearing lifts, and many sources say his peak height was 5'8".

When he was seeing [Diana Douglas], [Lauren Bacall] learned Douglas had no money and that he had at one point spent the night in jail because he had no place to sleep. She once gave him her uncle's old coat to keep warm.

Before he was a successful actor, he sold snacks to mill workers to earn enough to buy milk and bread to help his family.

His sister, Freida Demsky-Becker (aka "Fritzi") died on September 20, 2015, at age 96.

After his last movie [Illusion (2004)], he retired from acting at age 87.

Graduated from Amsterdam High School in Amsterdam, NY, in 1934 at age 17.

His family has a history of its members living long lives.

Through his friend and acting classmate [Lauren Bacall] he met his first wife [Diana Douglas] at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.

Uncle of: Gary, David and Barbara.

Decided to become a professional actor after having acted in high school.

Before becoming a successful actor, he held more than 40 jobs, including delivering newspapers, waiting tables (once in the same restaurant as [John Forsythe]), doing radio commercials and working in the theater.

Met [Lauren Bacall] (at the time known as Betty Jane Perske) at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, which gave him a special scholarship. She was eight years his junior.

Met future wife [Diana Douglas] before the Second World War. During the war Douglas was serving in the US Navy when he saw the May 3, 1943, issue of "Life" Magazine, which featured a photograph of Dill on the cover. He showed the cover to his shipmates and said that he would marry her. She was almost six years his junior. They would divorce in 1951.

His ex-[Tough Guys (1986)] co-star, [Dana Carvey], both participated in the Bristol-Myers Campaign, which was to help lower a person's risk of heart disease, where both Douglas and Carvey, as well as many other celebrities who had appeared in advertisements around that same time also volunteered their time to help increase the public's awareness. [13 November 2001].

Personal Quotes (47)

Virtue is not photogenic. What is it to be a nice guy? To be nothing, that's what. A big fat zero with a smile for everybody.

I've made a career of playing sons of bitches.

In order to achieve anything you must be brave enough to fail.

I came from abject poverty. There was nowhere to go but up.

Making movies is a form of narcissism.

People are always talking about the old days. They say that the old movies were better, that the old actors were so great. But I don't think so. All I can say about the old days is that they have passed.

I have always told my sons that they didn't have my advantages of being born into abject poverty.

I think half the success in life comes from first trying to find out what you really want to do. And then going ahead and doing it.

Life is like a B-picture script! It is that corny. If I had my life story offered to me to film, I'd turn it down.

If you want to know about a man you can find out an awful lot by looking at who he married.

My kids never had the advantage I had. I was born poor.

I want my sons to surpass me, because that's a form of immortality.

If the good guy gets the girl, it's rated PG; If the bad guy gets the girl, it's rated R; and if everybody gets the girl, it's rated X.

[December 9, 2006] My name is Kirk Douglas. You may know me. If you don't . . . Google me. I was a movie star and I'm Michael Douglas' dad, Catherine Zeta-Jones' father-in-law and the grandparents of their two children. Today I celebrate my 90th birthday. I have a message to convey to America's young people. A 90th birthday is special. In my case, this birthday is not only special but miraculous. I survived World War II, a helicopter crash, a stroke, and two new knees. It's a tradition that when a "birthday boy" stands over his cake he makes a silent wish for his life and then blows out the candles. I have followed that tradition for 89 years but on my 90th birthday, I have decided to rebel. Instead of making a silent wish for myself, I want to make a loud wish for The World. Let's face it: The World is in a mess and you are inheriting it. Generation Y, you are on the cusp. You are the group facing many problems: abject poverty, global warming, genocide, AIDS and suicide bombers, to name a few. These problems exist and the world is silent. We have done very little to solve these problems. Now we leave it to you. You have to fix it because the situation is intolerable. You need to rebel, to speak up, write, vote, and care about people and the world you live in. We live in the best country in the world. I know. My parents were Russian immigrants. America is a country where EVERYONE, regardless of race, creed or age, has a chance. I had that chance. You are the generation that is most impacted and the generation that can make a difference. I love this country because I came from a life of poverty. I was able to work my way through college and go into acting, the field that I love. There is no guarantee in this country that you will be successful. But you always have a chance. Nothing should interfere with it. You have to make sure that nothing stands in the way. When I blow out my candles--90! . . . it will take a long time . . . but I'll be thinking of you.

I did four movies with [John Wayne]. We were a strange combination. He was a Republican and I was a Democrat. We argued all the time.

[on Michael Moore's interview with Charlton Heston in Bowling for Columbine (2002)] I cannot forgive the way he treated Charlton Heston. Even if I don't agree with much of Heston's politics, Chuck is a gentleman. He agreed to have an interview with Moore, and Moore took advantage of the situation and made Chuck look foolish. He had been invited to Heston's home and he was treated with courtesy. I winced when I saw the expression on Chuck's face change as he realized that he had been duped. And yet he remained a gentleman and dismissed the interloper with grace.

[on John Wayne] John Wayne was a star because he always played John Wayne. Frankly, he wasn't an excellent actor, but good heavens, what a star! It wasn't John Wayne who served the roles; the roles served John Wayne.

[on Linda Darnell] Linda Darnell is the most unspoilt star on the screen--and also the most beautiful.

[on Doris Day] That face she shows the world--smiling, only talking good, happy, tuned into God--as far as I'm concerned, that's just a mask. I haven't a clue as to what's underneath. Doris is just about the remotest person I know.

I've always believed virtue is not photogenic, and I think I've always been attracted to a part, uh, I'd rather play the *evil* character, most of the time, than the nice fella. And I think it really *bothered* my mother, because she would tell people, "You know, my son's not like that, he's really a nice boy!"

It isn't a manly profession. It's a childish profession. You couldn't be a complete, grown-up adult and be an actor . . . I mean, if I were a sophisticated adult, how could I say, "Here I am, fighting evil, represented by Yul Brynner"? You have to have a childish part of you! It's true! You know, I watch as my kids have grown up, I've watched, them, you know. Children are natural actors; they pretend they're cops and robbers, and I think all actors retain a certain amount of that within themselves. They have to, or they can't function as actors. And that's why they become self-deprecating. They think, well, it's not

[Senator Joseph McCarthy] was an awful man who was finding Communists all over the country. He blacklisted the writers who wouldn't obey his edict. The heads of the studios were hypocrites who went along with it. My company produced Spartacus (1960), written by Dalton Trumbo, a blacklisted writer, under the name Sam Jackson. Too many people were using false names back then. I was embarrassed. I was young enough to be impulsive, so even though I was warned against it, I used his real name on the screen.

[on the death of Tony Curtis]: Tony Curtis was one of the best-looking guys in Hollywood. He was often described as beautiful, but he was also a fine actor. I worked with Tony in The Vikings (1958) and in Spartacus (1960), and we were friends for a long time. What I will miss most about him is his sense of humor. It was always fun to be with him.

You have to leave your country to get a perspective, to see what makes America great. Now I can say that nowhere in the world is there a match for what we have in Hollywood.

When you become a star, you don't change. Everyone else does.

[on Paths of Glory (1957)] A truly great film with a truly great theme: the insanity and brutality of war. As I predicted, it made no money.

[asked to name his favorite director] I would NEVER do that. I've enjoyed working with [Billy Wilder[, [William Wyler], Joseph L. Mankiewicz], [Howard Hawks], [Elia Kazan]. I did three films with [Vncente Minnelli] and got nominated for two of them--but I could never name just one director.

[2011, on Anne Hathaway] She's gorgeous! Wow! Where were you when I was making pictures?

[interview in "Ability" Magazine] You see, when a person becomes disabled, often their family starts thinking, "Oh dear, don't move, let me get that for you". Once I told my wife that I thought I wanted breakfast in bed the next morning, she said the old joke, "If you want breakfast in bed, sleep in the kitchen."

I can't tell you how many times someone has said, "I've heard you're such an S.O.B." I'll say, "Who said that?"--90% of the time it's someone with whom I've never worked.

[In his autobiography] I think that . . . I am unfairly given credit for [son Michael Douglas (I)]' talents, as if he had only my genes. Diana [Michel's mother, Diana Douglas (I)] is a talented actress, and Michael has inherited from both of us. My wife and I see Diana and her husband, Bill Darrid, often . . . and have a pleasant relationship with them.

Why is it that often the people you do the most for resent you the most? Maybe you remind them of their weaknesses. The hell with them!

I'm too old to change. Like Popeye, "I yam what I yam." Love me or hate me, just don't be indifferent.

Let's face it--the world is a mess and the young people will inherit this mess. We should do all we can to help deal with it. That's why I wrote the book "Let's Face It" and dedicated to the young people. I try, with humor, to help them navigate through what lies ahead. But the reality is, he problems they face are not very funny.

We are the strongest country in the world. We are the richest. We must take self-inventory. We must look less into the stars and planets in the heavens and more into ourselves. What can we do to make our country better? To earn back the respect we used to have?

[1957, to interviewer Mike Wallace (I) regarding Wallace's statement, " . . . but you're reading somebody else's words. Somebody else is telling you what to do, where to go, how to stand, what to say"] Well, then, you don't understand what acting really is. And, of course, that would be quite a long conversation to go into. I mean, acting is an interpretive art. I mean, you may hear [Jascha Heifetz] play the violin. He didn't write the piece, but oh, how he plays it. That's what's wonderful. That's what an actor tries to do. He may not have written the piece, but what he wants to do is interpret it.

[in 2013] I often played the good cowboy on screen, riding in to save the day. Now everybody thinks he is a cowboy, too. That frightens me. We have become a cowboy country with too many guns. I cannot understand the people who are against some form of gun control. They should be the first to welcome a message on making it more difficult to get a gun. Many of them seem to propose more guns being available to everybody. Why? Are they interested in making more money for the gun manufacturers? Are they politicians who just want to oppose the president in anything he endorses? It's incomprehensible to me.

I never, ever thought I would live to be 100. That's shocked me, really. And it's sad, too. I miss Burt Lancaster - we fought a lot, and I miss him a lot. And John Wayne, even though he was a Republican and I was a Democrat.

I was not a tough guy. I just acted like one.

[son Michael Douglas (I)] didn't like me much after his mother and I got divorced. It was only when he started acting that we became close.

I don't know who any of the new stars are, and they probably don't know me.

I had been a ragamuffin kid of 15 coping with a neighborhood filled with gangs. Under my teacher's guidance, I became a different person. I'm eternally grateful. By today's standards, she would have gone to jail. I had no idea we were doing something wrong. Did she?

[statement for the release of Trumbo (2015)] As actors it is easy for us to play the hero. We get to fight the bad guys and stand up for justice. In real life, the choices are not always so clear. The Hollywood Blacklist, recreated powerfully on screen in Trumbo (2015), was a time I remember well. The choices were hard. The consequences were painful and very real. During the blacklist I had friends who went into exile when no one would hire them; actors who committed suicide in despair. My young co-star in Detective Story (1951), Lee Grant, was unable to work for 12 years after she refused to testify against her husband before the House Un-American Activities Committee. I was threatened that using a blacklisted writer for Spartacus (1960)--my friend Dalton Trumbo--would mark me as a "Commie-lover" and end my career. There are times when one has to stand up for principle. I am so proud of my fellow actors who use their public influence to speak out against injustice. At 98 years old, I have learned one lesson from history: It very often repeats itself. I hope that "Trumbo", a fine film, will remind all of us that the blacklist was a terrible time in our country, but that we must learn from it so that it will never happen again.

[in 2016] I've lived through the horrors of a Great Depression and two World Wars, the second of which was started by a man who promised that he would restore his country it to its former greatness. I was 16 when that man came to power in 1933. For almost a decade before his rise he was laughed at--not taken seriously. He was seen as a buffoon who couldn't possibly deceive an educated, civilized population with his nationalistic, hateful rhetoric. The "experts" dismissed him as a joke. They were wrong.

[in 2016] They say there is nothing new under the sun. Since I was born, our planet has traveled around it 100 times. With each orbit, I've watched our country and our world evolve in ways that would have been unimaginable to my parents--and continue to amaze me with each passing year.